Footwear structure

ABSTRACT

An improved footwear structure, which comprises an upper and a sole, associated to such upper. The footwear structure also comprises fitting means, which are associated to such upper and such sole for accommodating the internal volume of such footwear structure to the size of a user&#39;s foot by means of co-operating resilient deformations of such upper and such sole.

[0001] The present invention relates to a footwear structure, which isparticularly suitable for leisure or sports activities.

[0002] It is notorious that a basic requirement for a footwear structureconsists of the fact that it should be counter-shaped as far as possibleto the shape of the user's foot in order to obtain a comfortable fit. Toachieve this aim, it is usual fabricate articles of footwear indifferent sizes. Of course, this fact entails the drawback that thehigher is the multeplicity of different sizes available for a certainarticle of footwear, the higher are the production, storage andtransportation costs related to such article of footwear and the higheris the difficulty in accomplishing an efficient logistic management ofthe production and distribution stocks.

[0003] Additionally, if the user has an increasing foot size, such as achild, a given footwear article is not likely to fit the user's footcomfortably for very long. In some cases, such footwear article isbarely worn before it no longer fits the user's foot. To prevent this,such footwear article can be bought in a larger size. But in this case,the user may slide frontward and backward inside the footwear structurewith a reduced comfort.

[0004] Other reasons for variation of the foot size may include, forexample, weight gain, weight loss, water retention or diseases. In thiscase, a footwear structure of a certain size could be no morecomfortable for the user, who is thus obliged to buy another morecomfortable article of footwear.

[0005] In order to solve this kind of problems, several adjustable fitfootwear articles have been conceived.

[0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,251, it is disclosed a shoe, whichincludes an expansible liner that comforms to the user's foot ofdifferent sizes. The main drawback of this known solution consists ofits intrinsic complexity, which very likely entails relatively highproduction costs. Moreover, while the upper of the shoe is somehowdeformable, the size of the sole remains unchanged. This fact couldreduce user's comfort, particularly if the shoe is used for sportsactivities. In fact, if a user with larger foot size wears the shoe, theshoe sole could be no more able to guarantee a suitable support for theuser's foot.

[0007] In patent application Ser. No. TV99U000057, it is disclosed aninner sports shoe for use in ski boots, skates or the like, whichcomprises two separate elements interconnected by a resilientlydeformable intermediate element. The main drawback of this type ofsports shoes consists of the fact that they are not in itself suitablefor walking. In fact, they generally comprise comprises an upper and asole, possibly one with each other, fabricated in soft fabrics, sincethey are basically conceived for being associated to a rigid shell.

[0008] Other examples of adjustable fit footwear articles are disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,614 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,385. In thesesolutions, adjustable means, which can be operated by the user, areadopted to change the size of the footwear article. Also, these footwearstructures have the drawback of being provided with a relatively complexstructure, thereby entailing relatively high production costs.

[0009] Therefore, the main aim of the present invention is to provide afootwear structure, which can be worn in maximum comfort also by feet ofdifferent shapes and sizes and which is relatively simple in itsstructure.

[0010] Within the scope of the above aim, another important object ofthe present invention is to provide a footwear structure, which allowsachieving a considerable improvement in stock management and remarkablereductions in transportation and storage costs.

[0011] Another important object of the present invention is to provide afootwear structure, which can be fabricated with relatively lowmanufacturing costs.

[0012] Thus, the present invention provides, a footwear structure, whichcomprises an upper and a sole, associated to such upper. The footwearstructure, according to the present invention, is characterised in thatit comprises fitting means, which are associated to such upper and suchsole for accommodating the internal volume of such footwear structure tothe size of a user's foot by means of co-operating resilientdeformations of such upper and such sole.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the footwear structure,according to the present invention, will become apparent from thedetailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated by way ofexample in the annexed drawings, but not limited thereto, wherein:

[0014] FIGS. 1-2 are different section views of a preferred embodimentof the footwear structure, according to the present invention; and

[0015] FIGS. 3-4 are a different views of a preferred embodiment of thefootwear structure, according to the present invention, worn by feet ofdifferent sizes; and

[0016] FIGS. 5-6 are exploded views of different embodiments of the soleof the footwear structure, according to the present invention; and

[0017] FIGS. 7-11 are schematic top views of various embodiments of thesole of the footwear structure, according to the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 12 is a cross section view of another preferred embodiment ofthe footwear structure, according to the present invention.

[0019] With reference to the above figures, reference number 1designates a footwear structure, according to the present invention.Such footwear structure 1 comprises an upper 2 associated, at thebottom, to a sole 3. The footwear structure 1, according to the presentinvention, is provided with self adjustable fitting means, which areassociated to the upper and the sole 3, for accommodating the footwearstructure 1 to the size of a user's foot. This is obtained by means ofinducing co-operating resilient deformations of the upper 3 and the sole2.

[0020] Advantageously, the fitting means comprise one or more firstregions 20, 201 that are fabricated in a material, which is resilientlydeformable both in a longitudinal and a transverse direction. For thisaim, it is possible to use those materials known with the brand name“LYCRA®”, or fabrics consisting of a weft fabricated in stretch material(again such as “LYCRA®”) combined with yams in polyester or thosematerials known with the brand name “NYLON®”. It is also possible, forexample, to use fabrics consisting of a weft fabricated with acomposition of several stretch yams, such as “LYCRA®”, and othermaterials, for example the one known and sold under the brand name“CORDURA®”. The first regions 20, 201 may be associated to one or moresecond regions 21, 211, variously shaped, fabricated in materialspresenting reduced tension set. The upper 2 may be advantageouslyprovided with known type of fastening devices 4, usually located in thearea of the upper surface of the foot or the instep.

[0021] The fitting means may advantageously comprise also third regions30 of the sole 3, which are at least partially made of a resilientlydeformable material. The third regions 30 may comprise, for example, afirst layer 5, fabricated in waterproof resiliently deformable material,preferably presenting a high resistance to perforation and abrasion. Forexample, it is possible to use materials such as rubber or a resilientlydeformable fabric provided with a weft that is combined with threads inmaterials presenting high strength, such as the material known by thebrand name “KEVLAR®”. The bottom of the first layer 5 is preferablyassociated to one or more separate layers in contact with the ground,which advantageously comprise a plurality of inserts 6 possiblyfabricated in a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material. In this manner,the inserts 6, being in contact with the ground, present advantageouslycharacteristics of high resistance to perforation and a high resistanceto abrasion. The arrangement of the inserts 6 on the first layer 5 maybe the most suitable in relation to the characteristics of deformabilityrequired by the sole 3. Particularly, such inserts 6 may be arrangedaccording to a layout defining a plurality of grooves 7, which allows aneasy deformation of the sole 3. The inserts 6 may be associated with thefirst layer 5 through stitching with rubber thread or with traditionalnon-elastic thread. In this second case, to maintain the resilientcharacteristics of the sole 3, the arrangement of the inserts 6 on thefirst layer 5 allow excellent deformability of the sole 3 both in atransverse and especially in a longitudinal direction (see FIG. 4). Theinserts 6 may also be glued to the first layer 5, or over-injected, oralso made one with the same, for example through a single injectionmoulding operation of plastic material.

[0022] The sole 3 comprises advantageously also a pliable region 15,which is obtained approximately transversely near the toe portion 110 ofthe footwear structure 1. In its more general definition, the footwearstructure according to the present invention is therefore characterisedin that the sole 3 has a pliable region 15 in proximity of its toe end,said pliable region 15 allowing a bending of the toe portion of theupper with a consequent change of its overall longitudinal dimension soas to accommodate the internal volume of the footwear structure to thesize of a user's foot.

[0023] It should be appreciated the different co-operating resilientdeformation actions operated by the fitting means on the upper 2 and thesole 3.

[0024] The first regions 20 of the fitting means exert a resilientstress on the toe portion 110 on a predefined direction aimed at liftingup the toe portion 110 from the ground (see arrow 200). The thirdregions 30 (particularly in the pliable region 15) allow an easy bendingof the sole 3, approximately in the same predefined direction 200, onwhich the resilient stress is exerted by the first regions 20.

[0025] Thus, the co-operating shrinking of at least a part of the firstregions 20 and the extension of at least a part of the third regions 30allows reducing the overall longitudinal dimension of the footwearstructure 1, the size of the upper 2 being resiliently reduced. Acomfortable use of the footwear structure 1 by users with small footsize is thereby allowed. Conversely, also users with larger foot sizemay wear the same footwear structure 1 as well. In this case, the forcesexerted by the user's foot are largely higher than the resilient stressexerted by the first regions 20. The size of the upper 2 and the sole 3is resiliently enhanced and the toe portion 110 is thereby forced tobend towards the ground (see arrow 201). Therefore, the overalllongitudinal dimension of the footwear structure 1 is enhanced.

[0026] The interconnection between the upper 2 and the sole 3 may besuitably accomplished through the bending and fixing of the side edges80 and 81 of the upper 2, along the upper surface of the sole 3. Suchkind of interconnection allows to maintain substantially unchanged theresilient characteristics of the footwear structure 1 and may thereforebe accomplished, for example, by stitching, using a thread made inelastic material, or through gluing of the side edges 80 and 81 on topof the first layer 5, or with a combination of the two techniques. It isadvisable that the parts are glued together using non-crystallisingglue, since such process of crystallisation may lead to a reduction,sometimes considerable, in the characteristics of resilience of thematerials in contact.

[0027] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 12, the footwear structure maycomprise third fitting means, said third fitting means comprising aseparate layer of resiliently deformable fabric 13, which is insertedbetween the upper 2 and the sole 3. The layer 13 may be advantageouslyfabricated in the same material as the first regions 20 of the upper 2.Such separate layer 13 is attached to the outer edges 14 of the upper 2,preferably by means of a known type of stitching, known by the name of“Strobel stitching”, in such a way as to fabricate a substantiallytubular shaped upper. It should be noticed that the use of the layer 13allows to achieve (in co-operation with the resilient action exerted bythe first regions 20) a comfortable lateral fit of the upper to theuser's foot, even if the size/shape of the user's foot variesremarkably.

[0028] Inside the upper 2 and at its bottom part, on the upper surfaceof the sole 3, a first mounting insole 9 may be advantageouslypositioned, so as to ensure a certain rigidity of the sole 3 or archsupport of the footwear structure 1. This first insole 9 may, forexample, comprise a suitably shaped sheet of rubber. A second insole 10may be also arranged on top of the first insole 9, so as to increase therigidity of the sole 3. The second insole 10 may comprise advantageouslyalso second fitting means arranged so as to allow a variation in thelongitudinal extension of the second insole 10. Particularly, the secondfitting means are positioned at the front of the second insole, incorrespondence of a portion 11 of the toes and may comprise two or morenotches 12, suitable for giving the second insole 10 the possibility ofvarying its longitudinal extension, thereby allowing free elongation ofthe footwear structure 1. The second insole 10 may be shaped in such away as to present a desired number of notches, variously positioned, asillustrated in FIG. 9-11. Additionally, the second insole 10 may alsohave a suitable profile, in which a block or a gentle protuberance (notshown) in the foot arch region are accentuated, thereby making it morecomfortable for the user.

[0029] Use of the footwear structure 1, according to the presentinvention, is therefore as follows: with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, theforce exerted by the first fitting means induce the footwear structure 1to accommodate its internal volume to the shape/size of the user's foot.The fitting means are self adjustable since they exert their action ofresiliently deforming the upper 2 and the sole 3 according to theshape/size of the user's foot without the need of being operated by theuser. In fact, if the footwear structure 1 is worn by a person withsmall feet, the first fitting means make the upper 2 clingingimmediately to the foot shape and make the toe portion 110 bendingupward to decrease the length of the footwear structure 1. At the sametime the portion 11 of the second insole 10 comforms to the movement ofthe toe portion 110 and flexes upwards, bending along the notches 12. Ifthe user has larger foot size, the first fitting means allows the upper2 to expand according to the foot shape/size, while the toe portion 110(togenther with the second insole 10) is allowed to bend towards theground, thereby determining an increase of the length of the footwearstructure 1.

[0030] It has thus been shown in practice that the footwear structure 1,according to the present invention, allows to achieve the intended aimand objects, since it can be used in maximum comfort by users withdifferent shape and size feet and since it is provided, at the sametime, with a very simple structure. In particular, the describedstructure may efficiently cover at least two successive sizes: in thisway, both manufacturing costs and especially storage costs areconsiderably reduced. Fabrication costs are also remarkably reducedthanks to the intrinsic simplicity of the footwear structure 1.Additionally, thanks to its considerable resilient deformability, thefootwear structure 1 may also be easily rolled up or bent, so that itcan be much easily transported or stored.

1. A footwear structure comprising: an upper (2) comprising a toeportion (110) and a heel portion (120), and a sole (3) associated tosaid upper (2), characterized in that said sole and said upper comprisefirst fitting means for accommodating the internal volume of saidfootwear structure to the size of a user's foot by means of co-operatingresilient deformation of said upper and said sole.
 2. A footwearstructure according to claim 1, characterized in that said first fittingmeans are arranged so as to allow a longitudinal and a transversalresilient deformation of said upper and said sole.
 3. A footwearstructure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said firstfitting means comprise a first region (20) of the upper, said firstregion being at least partially made of resiliently deformable materialand exerting a resilient stress on a toe portion (110) of said footwearstructure along a predefined direction to lift up said toe portion fromthe ground.
 4. A footwear structure according to claim any of theprevious claims, characterized in that said first fitting means comprisea third region (30) of the sole, said third region being at leastpartially made of resiliently deformable material and allowing an easybending of said sole so as to allow the lift-up of said toe portion fromthe ground.
 5. A footwear structure according to claim 4 and 5characterized in that a resilient shrinking of at least a part of saidfirst region (20) cooperate with a resilient extension of at least apart of said third region (30) so as to reduce the overall longitudinaldimension of said footwear structure.
 6. A footwear structure accordingto any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said first fitting meanscomprise a second region (21) of the upper, said second region being atleast partially made of materials presenting a reduced tension set.
 7. Afootwear structure according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised inthat said third region (30) of the sole comprise at least a first layer(5) made of resiliently deformable material waterproof material having arelatively high resistance to perforation and abrasion.
 8. A footwearstructure according to claim 7, characterized in that said first layer(5) is associated at the bottom with one or more separate layers incontact with the ground.
 9. A footwear structure according to claim 8,characterized in that said one or more separate layers comprise one ormore inserts (6) made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic materials having arelatively high resistance to perforation and abrasion.
 10. A footwearstructure according to claim 9, characterized in that said inserts (6)are arranged at the bottom of said first layer (5), so as to define aplurality of grooves (7) that allow an easy deformation of said sole.11. A footwear structure according to any of claims 4 to 10,characterised in that said third region comprises a pliable region (15)allowing a bending of said toe portion (110) of said upper.
 12. Afootwear structure according to any of the previous claims,characterized in that it comprises a first insole (9), which is arrangedinside and at the bottom part of said upper (2).
 13. A footwearstructure according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises asecond insole (10), which is arranged inside said upper (2)approximately at the upper surface of said first insole (9).
 14. Afootwear structure according to claim 13, characterised in that saidsecond insole comprises second fitting means arranged so as to allow avariation in the longitudinal extension of said second insole.
 15. Afootwear structure according to claim 14, characterised in that saidsecond fitting means comprise two or more notches (12) arranged at a toeportion (11) of said second insole.
 16. A footwear structure accordingto any of the previous claims, characterized in that the side edges ofsaid upper (2) are bent and fixed at the upper surface of said sole(3).17. A footwear structure according to any of the previous claims,characterized in that it comprises third fitting means, said thirdfitting means comprising a separate layer of resilient deformable fabric(13) which is inserted between the upper (2) and the sole (3).
 18. Afootwear structure comprising: an upper (2) comprising a toe portion(110) and a heel portion (120), and a sole (3) associated to said upper(2), characterized in that said sole (3) comprises a pliable region (15)allowing a bending of said toe portion (110) of said upper with aconsequent change of its overall longitudinal dimension so as toaccommodate the internal volume of the footwear structure to the size ofa user's foot.